Extension drive shaft and handle grip for rotatable and angularly adjustable tools



Feb. 21, 1950 J M THOMAS 2,498,465

EXTENSION DRIVE-SHAFT AND HANDLE-GRIP FOR ROTATABLE AND ANGULARLYADJUSTABLE TOOLS Filed Feb. 12, 1948 J 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.3.

James M. Thomas INVENTOR.

Attorney:

J. M. THOMAS ,498,45 EXTENSION DRIVE-SHAFT AND HANDLE-GRIP FOR ROTATABLEAND ANGULARLY ADJUSTABLE TOOLS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 21, 1950 Filed Feb.12, 1948 James M. Thomas INVENTOR. 4016:

WW @Mg Patented Feb. 21, 1950 UNITED *EXTENSION DRIVE SHAFT AND, iHANDLEGRIPFOR ROTATABLE AND ANGULARLY *ADJUSTABLETOOLS 1 Claim. 1

This invention Jrelates' to "new and useful improvementsiin wrenches and"theaprimary object of the :present invention is'to provide-"a :wrenchbar inclu'ding'a tooliengaging; element and nov'el and improved meansfor adjusting the tool engaging element at selected angles'relative'tothe wrench bar," for use" in removing nuts or' the like -which aredisposed insrestricte'd areas which are difficult to reachiibysoeketwrenches, or the-like.

Another objectiof the :present invention is to provide-a wrenchincludingzaatool engaging member and embodying novel I andimproved:means :for; retaining the tool engaging 'membertsat aselected-anglerand for rotating theltool engaging member in a convenientmanner by an operator. Another important object of the invention is toprovide a wrench so designed as to permit, a

mechanicis hands to .be unobstructed and clear from the work element inclose places, thereby enabling thesmechanic to work with-better-vision 1ber an' actuating bar connected .to the 'tool engaging member, and novelandimproved removable lever means for increasing the length of thepresent wrench and for. effecting-a rotation of the actuating member inplaces where the normal ,lengthof the wrench is'impractical and inade-.quate.

A still further aim ofthe present invention is .to provide a wrench thatisisimple and,practica1 in\ construction, strongand reliable inluse,small .and compact in structure, neat and attractiveiin appearance,relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and otherwise well adapted forthe purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein likenumerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a fragmentary side elevational view of the wrenchconstructed in accordance with the present invention, the extensionremoved therefrom, and showing the tool engaging member in a raisedposition;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the present wrenchshowing the tool engaging member in an inclined and partially loweredposition, and with parts of the wrench broken away and shown in section;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary bottom view as indi- LE2 "ea-ted by thearrows'on the line 3'-3 of Fig ure l; -Fig-ure 4 is' a' transversevertical sectional view taken-substantially--on the plane of.theasection 'line 4--'4 of Figure fl 5 l1"ig-1;lre'5 'isa fragmentary'side elevationalwiew of the present wrench? in- -slightlymo'cl ifiedform;

Figure ii is a fragmentary" longitudinal hori- "zontal sectionalviewitaken substantial-1y: onithe plane of section line 6- 6 ofFigure'b;

Figure- 7- isa view similar to" Figure 5,4an'd showing tha'removamelever extension applied thereto and,

*Figure 'ii is a perspective-view Ofitheremovable lever extension usedincor'ljunction'withthe pres- -ent invention.

Re'ferring now to -*the drawings in detailparid *more particularlyto'iE'igures 1 4 inclusive,:where- 'in for' the purpose (if-illustrationthere is disclosed a prferrederfibodiment=of' the present invention, thenumeral l 0 represent :a tubular: guide-sleeve which -is integrallyformed with an enlarged cylindrical hand gripi 2 at one end.

slid'ab'ly and rotatably positioned in' the guide "sleeve- Im-i-sarr-actuatingbar or shaft l 4,:the1for- "w'ard end l a andtrear end 1-6ofwhich project outwardly from theguidesleeve land the handgrip I2.Fixed on therean end YB-Ofthe'actuafting bar M by any suitablemeans, isa 'preferabl annular hand gripping knob 20 havingI-an ean-n-uiar :recess22 vin one end for engaging a "socket element-'24 integrally formed withthe rear end 1 86fthe-"actuatingbar l 4.

Secured in -ausual mannerto th'e forward end 1 8 of' the a-ctuatingi'barI4, is a-conventiona1 =sing1e t'miVGI-SQI'JOiHfiZG; oneend-"ZB of whichis "integrally formed with -the enlarged annular head portion 30 of atool engaging lug 32. An annular bearing surface 34 integrally formedwith the lug 32 is disposed between the head portion 30 and the lug 32and removably engages a fixed thrust or stop collar 36. Disposed betweenthe stop collar 36 and the end 28 of the universal joint 26, is abearing plate 38 having a central opening that rotatably receives thehead portion 30 of the tool engaging lug 32. This bearing plate 38 isprovided with an integral attaching ear 40 which is pivotally secured bya pin or the like 42 to the lower forward ends 44 of a pair of spacedparallel links 46, the rear ends 48 50 of which are pivoted on oppositesides of a rigid attaching ear 5!) depending from the guide sleeve III,by a pivot pin 52. I

In practical use of the device thus described in Figures 1-4 inclusive,by holding the handgrip l2 fixed and pushing the hand receiving greesand forty-five degrees in the form of the invention shown in Figures1-4inc1usive.

By rotating the knob 20, the actuating bar I4 will also be rotated toeffect a rotation of thelug 32 and the suitable tool which isfrictionally retained on said lug 32. 1

Reference is now directed to Figures 5 and 6,

wherein there is disclosed the present invention ignated generally bythe numeral I8, includes an auxiliary guide sleeve 80 that rotatably andslidably supports an auxiliary actuating bar 82 having a socket engagingforward end portion 84 that frictionally engages the socket, either 24or 86, formed at the rear ends of the actuating bars l4 and 54.

Rigidly secured to the auxiliary guide sleeve BI], is the angulated end88 of an arcuate connecting arm 90 having a socket engaging lug 92formed at its free end that frictionally engages sockets 94 which areintegrally formed with the guide sleeves l8 and 56.

in slightly modified form. In this embodiment,;

the numeral 54 represents the actuating bar or shaft which is slidablyand rotatably mounted in a tubular guide sleeve 56 having a handengaging grip 58 integrally formed at one end.

Removably secured to the actuating bar 54, is a usual, double universaljoint 68, an outer section "62 of which is integrally formed with an en-'larged head portion 63 of a tool engaging lug 64.

The head portion of the lug 64 is rotatably mounted in an opening formedin a bearing plate 66 which is provided with a bifurcated extension 68that supports a pivot pinlll. This pin 10 is pivoted to the forward freeend 12 of a downwardly and forwardly inclined thrust arm 14 that isrigidly carried by the guide sleeve 56. 1

In practical use of this modified form of the invention, as shown inFigures 5 and 6, the actuating bar 54 is pushed forwardly by a hand grip76 carried by 'said bar 54, and the guide sleeve 56 is held fixed sothat the lug 54 will be pivoted relative to the arm 14 a selected angle,between the limits of zero degrees and ninety degrees. By rotating thegrip 16, the bar 54 and lug 64will likewise be rotated to effectrotation of a suitable tool or socket member which is positioned on thelug 64 thus permitting the convenient removal of nuts or the like withthe tool engaging member disposed at a selected angle relative to thelongitudinal axis of the actuating bar v54.

Reference is now directed to Figures 7 and 8, wherein there is disclosedthe removable extension lever which is employed in conjunction with thepresent wrench, either the preferred form of the wrench shown in Figures1-4 inclusive or the modified embodiment of the invention as shown inFigures 5 and 6. This extension which is des- Fixed on a rear socket end96 of the auxiliary actuating bar 82, is a knob 98 which may beconveniently rotated for effecting a rotation of either the bar [4 or54, depending on which embodiment of the invention-the present auxiliaryor lever extension is applied.

It is noted that the auxiliary lever attachment 18 which is shown inFigures 7 and 8, is so designed as to facilitate the same to be quicklyapplied to or removed from either of the embodiments of the wrenchdescribed and shown.

qHaving described the invention, what claimed as new is:

An extension handle and drive for a tool comprising a main guide sleeve,a shaft slidably and rotatably mounted in said main guide sleeve, toolengaging means pivotally connected to said main guide sleeve and to saidshaft for movement between positions coaxial, and angular to, saidshaft, the angular disposition of said tool engaging means relative tosaid shaft being varied by relative sliding movement between said shaftand said main guide sleeve, a removable auxiliary guide sleeve mountedon said main guide sleeve in coaxial and spaced relation thereto, andmeans slidable and rotatable in said auxiliary guide sleeve andconnected to said shaft for rotating said shaft and tool engaging means.

JAMES M. THOMAS.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 404,167 BurtisMay 28, 1889 444,111 Shea et a1. Jan. 6, 1891 921,840 Jacobs May 18,1909

1,239,847 Townill Sept. 11, 1917 1,537,657 Burch May 12, 1925 1,628,553Owens May 10, 1927

